2024 Pacific Media Conference: 'Navigating challenges and shaping futures in Pacific media research' - Call for Papers
The University of the South Pacific's Laucala campus in Suva, Fiji. Image: USP
2024 PACIFIC MEDIA CONFERENCE
Call for Papers
Navigating Challenges and Shaping Futures in Pacific Media Research and Practice.
The University of the South Pacific, Suva Fiji.
Key Information
- Conference Dates: 4-6 July 2024
- Abstract Submission: 5 April 2024
- Panel submission: 5 May 2024
- Full paper submission: 4 July 2024
Registration Fees:
- Standard FJD $400 (AUS $270 & NZ $290).
- Early Bird Registration FJD $300. Payment Deadline: April 20.
- Student FJD $300.
Conference Fees Payment: 20 May 2024.
Click Here for the Online Payment Link
The University of the South Pacific’s School of Pacific Arts, Communications and Education (Journalism) will host the 2024 Pacific International Media Conference in association with its partners the Pacific Island News Association (PINA) and the Asia-Pacific Media Network (APMN), publishers of Pacific Journalism Review.
Date: 4-6 July 2024.
Venue: The University of the South Pacific, Laucala Campus, Suva, Fiji.
OVERVIEW
The Pacific region is witnessing unprecedented shifts and challenges in its small and micro media systems due to various forces embedded in governance and political instability; the impact of intense geostrategic competition, primarily between China and the United States; challenges associated with climate change and environmental degradation; and serious issues in the health sector. These trends have compounded the situation in a region that has struggled to achieve sufficient and sustained levels of development for its people’s needs.
The news media, which has a major role in reporting these public interest issues, are themselves facing unprecedented challenges, primarily brought on by the digital disruption and the Covid-19 pandemic, on top of the usual difficulties prevalent in small and micro systems, such as low revenue base, high staff turnover and outsized government influence/pressure. The vulnerable Pacific media sector is reeling from the ramifications of changing audience expectations, rapidly declining revenues, and misinformation and disinformation on social media. Another challenge is the onset of Artificial Intelligence in both journalism education and practice. With the Pacific media sector in the throes of possibly the most profound phase of transformation in its history, it is imperative to monitor and research these turbulences, assess them as they unfold, and chart the way forward.
The 2024 Pacific Media Conference seeks to bring together professional practitioners, academics, policymakers, civil society organisations and others in the Pacific and beyond to engage in critical discussions on these and other topics relevant to the news media sector. We welcome abstracts from early career and postgraduate researchers.
TOPICS
We are now calling for abstracts for research and conference papers, and panel proposals focused on the following topics and related themes in the Asia-Pacific:
Media, Democracy, Human Rights and Governance:
- Media democracy and good governance.
- Overcoming challenges in media freedom and mediarights.
- Political cartooning and satire in Pacific media.
- Media’s role in advocating for social justice, equality, and human rights.
Media and Geopolitics
- How Pacific media report regional and global geopolitical events.
- Pacific media and foreign media aid.
- Portrayal of the big power contest in the Pacific media.
Digital Disruption:
- Impact of digital disruption on the practice and business of journalism.
- Social media, misinformation, and disinformation.
- Citizen journalism and the democratisation of news flows.
- Ethical dilemmas of citizen journalism.
- Exploring the intersection of journalism and AI in shaping the future of media in the Pacific.
Media Law and Ethics
- Ethical and professional issues in Pacific media.
- Promoting best practices in Pacific journalism.
- Weaponising defamation against news media.
- Balancing media regulation for ethical standards and freedom of speech.
- Media law and ethics in the social media and citizen journalism contexts.
Media, Climate Change and Environmental Journalism
- State of climate change and environmental reporting.
- Role of media in reporting climate change and the environment.
- Overcoming challenges in climate change and environmental reporting.
Indigenous and Vernacular Media
- Amplifying indigenous voices and vernacular in mainstream media.
- Challenges and successes of indigenous media initiatives in Oceania.
- The state of vernacular media in Oceania.
Social Cohesion, Peacebuilding and Conflict-Prevention
- Community-based journalism in the Pacific.
- Providing space for marginalised voices and grassroots issues.
- Peace journalism, conflict-sensitive reporting, and solutions journalism.
COVID-19 Pandemic and Health Reporting:
- Role of media during the Covid-19 pandemic.
- Lessons learned and best practices for future health crises.
- Health reporting and non-communicable-diseases.
- Financial and editorial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Media Entrepreneurship and Sustainability:
- Nurturing media startups and entrepreneurship in the Pacific.
- Sustainable business models in light of digital disruption.
REGISTRATION
Registration fees of FJ$400 (AUS$270) (NZ$290) -- FJ$300 for students -- covers morning tea and lunch over the three days and conference dinner, with an ‘Island Feast’ theme, on Friday, 5 July.
Payment deadline: 20 May 2024.
SUBMISSIONS
Submissions for abstracts, papers and panels can be sent to the conference chair, A/Prof Shailendra Singh, on following email address: shailendra.singh@usp.ac.fj
Abstracts: Deadline 5 April
Please submit abstracts (max 300 words) with presentation title, up to 5 key words, your name, affiliation and email address. Results of abstract review returned to authors generally within four weeks.
Panels: Deadline 5 May
Panel proposals should include a 200-word overview, with 200 words from each participant on their contribution, as well as a panel title, author/s and affiliation and keywords. Results of panel proposals confirmed generallywithin four weeks.
Full papers: Deadline 5 July
The editors of Pacific Journalism Review will be inviting a selection of the best conference papers to be considered for publication in a special edition of the PJR or its companion publication Pacific Media Monographs: https://ojs.aut.ac.nz/pacific-journalism-review/
Deadline for papers to be submitted for double blind peer review: 31 August 2024.
CONFERENCE WEBSITE
A conference website will be posted shortly. In the meantime, if you have further questions, please email A/Professor Shailendra Singh: shailendra.singh@usp.ac.fj
